The parents, siblings and other family and friends of Preston man Daniel Appleby, who lost his life to a catastrophic brain haemorrhage aged just 30, have been marking what would have been Daniel’s 40th birthday through a series of events that are raising money for the Children’s Ward at the Royal Preston Hospital.
Having been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as an 11-year-old, Daniel had had numerous stays on the ward, which is why those closest to him are hoping to raise £7,000 towards the building of a new pirate ship themed nurses’ station.
Daniel’s mum, former nurse Julie Appleby, who along with Daniel’s dad Mick have already donated more than £10,000 in Daniel’s name to have the parents’ room adjoining the ward re-designed and refurbished in addition to gifting toys worth hundreds of pounds, kicked off the fundraising on 24th June – Daniel’s actual birthday – by swimming 40 lengths in the pool at Total Fitness in Preston.
Julie, who repeated the swim each day for the next six days, said: “Daniel was a cheeky chap. He spent many an evening sat at the nurses’ station, charming the nurses into getting him pizza! He was a one-off. He also loved a good pirate boat trip so we feel the cause is something he would approve of.”
As Daniel was born in 1986, Julie and Mick organised an 80s themed party at Vernon’s Sports Club in Penwortham to celebrate Daniel’s life. Fancy dress was optional but the party had food, a DJ, raffle and tombola. Among the guests were Jean and Alison, two nurses who had looked after Daniel on the Children’s Ward.
Vernon’s was also the venue for a bowling competition that added £690 to the £2,905 already raised via Julie’s online fundraising page in Daniel’s memory at https://www.justgiving.com/page/julie-appleby-3
Some 32 bowlers played for the Daniel Appleby Trophy, which is awarded annually but which this year had greater poignancy because of Daniel’s significant birthday. Among those who took part were Julie, Mick and Daniel’s younger brother Rick (36).
On her 31st birthday at the beginning of August, Daniel’s sister Lucy then completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks alongside partner Alex Bracewell and friends Emma and Jamie in 8h,46m to raise funds. Together, Lucy and Alex run Godwin’s Fish and Chips in Pope Lane, Penwortham.
Julie, who left nursing to work for Sure Start supporting parents with babies and young children before founding New Springs Family Care Ltd, added: “We are very grateful to everyone who sponsored my swim, everyone who came to the party, all the bowlers who turned out to play for the Daniel Appleby Trophy and to all the many customers of Godwin’s Chippy, who so generously sponsored Lucy and Alex.”
The family have one further event left to achieve their fundraising goal – the Great North Run on 13th September. Among the half marathon’s participants will be Rick, who is busy both training and looking for sponsors. He will be joined at the start line by his uncle Kev Thomas and his cousins, Kev’s sons Joe and George.
Rick, who works for New Springs Family Care Ltd and is also a member of Total Finess in Preston, said: “Kev and Joe are runners with marathons and ultramarathons under their belts but George and I are not. We took up running especially for Daniel and this event.”
Lucy Clark, fundraiser for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity (LTHC), who will accept the Appleby’s donation on behalf of LTHC’s Children’s Fund, which supports children’s in and outpatients not only at the Royal Preston Hospital but also at all other children’s facilities managed by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Julie, Mick, all their family and friends.
“Once again, they have worked so hard but also brought togetherness, fun and joy into remembering Daniel and adding to his legacy by helping us fund improvements to the Children’s Ward. The novel pirate ship theme for the new nurses’ station is something the ward’s nurses have themselves come up with. They feel the design will help make them more accessible to their young patients.”